Safety ski binding apparatus

ABSTRACT

Safety ski binding apparatus has lateral movement restraining structure operatively associated with the ski and ski boot for establishing a pivot intermediately of the heel and toe bindings about which the ski boot will turn to reduce the strain on the leg when the leg is twisted during skiing. An improved toe binding has a spring-loaded lever and clamp assembly which releasably holds the toe portion of the boot down against the top of the ski and restrains forward movement of the ski boot while permitting lateral movement of the toe portion about the intermediate pivot.

ilnited States atent 1 [111 3 73L94 Johnson 1 May 8, 1973 [54] SAFETY SKI BINDING APPARATUS FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS [76] Inventor: fontg'fark 1,062,155 7/1959 Germany ..280/11.35 Y

Avenue, Cheyenne, Wyo. 82001 Primary Examiner-Kenneth H. Betts [22] Flled May 1970 Assistant Examiner--Robert R. Song [21] Appl. No.: 39,927 Attorney-Reilly and Lewis [57] ABSTRACT [52] U.S. Cl ..280/1l.35 T, 280/1135 C [51] Int. Cl ..A63c 9/00 Safety bmdmg apparatus has lateral movement 58 Field of Search ..280/l1.35 T, 11.35 c restraining Structure Pemive1y associated with the 280/1135 ski and ski boot for establishing a pivot intermediately of the heel and toe bindings about which the ski boot 56 will turn to reduce the strain on the leg when the leg is l 1 References Clted twisted during skiing. An improved toe binding has a UNITED STATES PATENTS spring-loaded lever and clamp assembly which releasably holds the toe portion of the boot down 2,586,339 2/1952 Hvam ..280/1l.35 T against the top of the i d restrains forward move 2,468,879 3/1949 Hvam ..280/1l.35 T

ment of the ski boot while permitting lateral movement of the toe portion about the intermediate pivot.

8 Claims, 8 Drawing Figures PATENTEDHAY 81m SHEET 1 UF 2 INVENTOR RALPH s. JOHNSON BY ,4; j 74a 7/;7

ATTORNEYS SAFETY SKI BINDING APPARATUS This invention relates to improvements in safety ski bindings and more particularly to novel and improved safety ski binding apparatus for more effectively securing a ski boot to a ski during skiing.

In skiing, the skiers weight is applied through the ball and heel of the foot which is rigidly bound to the ski by the boot; and any turning or twisting action is imparted to the ski boot via the leg and foot. Presently available ski bindings, in general, restrain against lateral movement at the heel and toe of the boot and, when the leg is twisted, the boot tends to pivot or rotate the boot about the heel or toe so as to result in a substantial moment of twist about the leg. Moreover, in attempting to hold the boot against lateral movement only at the toe and the heel, the bindings will tend to freely release when the full lateral or side force is applied to the bindings; and since the natural tendency during skiing is to exert a full side thrust force, the bindings tend to release prematurely.

Accordingly, it is an object of this invention to provide improved ski binding apparatus which results in a reduction in the twist on the leg and further results in allowing more direct side thrust on the ski boot before it will release.

Another object of this invention is to provide a novel and improved ski binding principally characterized by structure attached to the conventional ski and/or conventional ski boot to establish a pivot intermediately of the heel and toe bindings of the ski boot which will cause the ski boot to turn or pivot approximately midway between the heel and toe rather than pivot about the heel thereby reducing the twist on the leg and at the same time permitting a full lateral thrust on the ski boot.

Yet another object of this invention is to provide an improved toe binding for holding the toe portion of a ski boot firmly against the top of the ski while permitting lateral movement relative thereto about a pivot intermediately of the heel and toe bindings.

Still a further object of this invention is to provide an improved toe binding which reliably releases to free the boot in the event of a rearward fall or in the event the skier skis into an immovable object.

In accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the improved ski binding apparatus includes lateral movement restraining structure operatively associated with the ski and ski boot for establishing a pivot under the weight of the skier between the heel and toe bindings and rearwardly of the ball of the foot about which the boot will turn in response to skiing forces being applied to the boot. One form of lateral movement restraining structure includes the provision of a pair of upstanding plate-like members secured to opposite sides of the ski engaging the sole of the boot. Another form includes a flat plate pivotally mounted on top of the ski with upright ear portions at each end to engage the sides of the boot. Yet a third form has a slotted plate member mounted on the sole of the ski boot in which a pivot member carried by the ski is captively held to rotate therein and permit limited longitudinal movement of the boot along the ski. The toe binding includes a spring-loaded lever and clamp assembly which exerts a downward thrust on the toe and restrains forward movement and at the same time permits full lateral movement of the boot and releases if the skier falls backward, forward or strikes an immovable object. The heel binding may release laterally, or both laterally and vertically in a conventional manner, so that the boot can pivot about the established intermediate pivot and slide laterally at the toe and heel.

Other objects, advantages and capabilities of the invention will become more apparent as the description proceeds taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:

FliG. l is a top plan view of ski binding apparatus mounted on a ski and shown as releasably securing a ski boot to the ski;

FIG. 2 is a side elevation view of the ski binding apparatus shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a side elevation view of the trigger and clamp elements of the toe binding shown in FIGS. 1 and 2;

FIG. 4 is a top plan view of the trigger and clamp elements taken along line 3- 3 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a top plan view of another form of lateral movement restraining member pivotally mounted on the top of the ski;

FIG. 6 is a side elevation view of the restraining member shown in FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is a bottom plan view showing the plate portion of yet another form of lateral restraining device; and

FIG. 8 is a side elevation view of the lateral restraining device shown in FIG. 7.

Referring now to the drawings, the intermediate portion of a ski 11 is fragmentarily shown in FIGS. 1i and 2 having a ski boot 112 secured to the top of the ski by ski binding apparatus which includes a lateral movement restraining device represented generally by numeral 13 disposed between a releasable toe binding 114 and a releasable heel binding 15. The lateral movement restraining device 13 comprises a pair of similar outriggers or side-mounted support plates 18 and ii? fastened to opposite sides of the ski at a location intermediately of the toe and heel of the boot. Each side plate correspondingly includes a rectangular-shaped lower base portion 2i below the top of the ski having a pair of spaced apertures into which fastening screws 22 extend to fasten each support plate to the ski, and a narrower ear portion 23 projects above the top of the ski to releasably engage and press against limited areas of the left and right side portions 12a and 12b of the sole of the boot. The ear portions 23 are rounded across the top convex edge and at the ends to form a double convex cross-section as best shown from the top in FIG. 1 to facilitate releasable placement of the ski boot therebetween. In the operation of the lateral movement restraining device 13 these side support plates serve to restrain lateral movement directly under the weight of the skier and establish a centrally located pivot under the weight of the skier which is slightly rearward of the ball of the foot which forces the ski boot 1 .2 to turn or rotate about a pivot point located between members 18 and 19 and the boot. Although plates 58 and 19 restrain lateral movement the boot may slide forwardly or rearwardly to a limited extent against the toe and heel bindings M and 15. This arrangement will thus serve to prevent any lateral sliding movement under any sidewise exertion during skiing and in this way the skier can exert relatively substantial direct lateral forces without forcing the toe and heel bindings to release.

The toe binding 14 shown comprises a base plate 31 on which there is supported a spring-loaded lever 32. The base plate has longitudinally extending and spaced slots 33 and 34 bordering its outer side edges through which extend fastening screws 35 so as to anchor the base plate to the top of the ski and provide for longitudinal adjustment therealong for various boot lengths. A pair of opposed, upstanding ear portions 36 and 37 inset from the outer side edges of the base plate project upwardly from and are integral with the base plate 31.

Lever 32 includes a horizontally disposed curved rear portion 32a which generally conforms in shape to and overlies the toe of the ski boot and a pair of vertical side arms 41 and 42 which extend or project forwardly from the side edges of the curved rear handle portion 32a; the side arms 41 and 42 merging with the rear portion 32a at their forward ends and progressively widening toward their forward ends.

The fulcrum or pivot for lever 32 is provided by a cross-pin 39 which extends through aligned apertures in the upstanding ear portions 36 and 37 and aligned apertures along a lower edge of the widened portion of the side arms 41 and 42 and with this arrangement the rear handle portion 32a of the lever will pivot from the rearwardly extending direction overlying the boot when the boot is clampingly engaged to a forwardly extending direction when the lever is released.

Lever 32 carries a clamp 43 having a right angle cross-section which is secured between side arms 41 and 42 and below rear handle portion 32a and facing rearwardly toward the boot; the clamp 43 engaging the top and front portions of a central area of the sole of the boot causing the boot to bear down against the top of the ski and restrain the boot against forward movement.

The spring-loaded arrangement for the lever 32 includes a rod 45 having a T-section 46 at its rear end which is pivoted in aligned apertures in the forward widened section of side arms 41 and 42; the forward straight end of the rod 45 being slidably supported in an aperture in an upstanding support 47 at the front of the base plate 31. The laterally extending ends of the T- section 46 are reduced in diameter to fit in apertures in side arms 41 and 42. This arrangement locates the pivot for rod 46 above and forwardly of the lever pivot established by cross-pin 39. A compression spring 48 is slidably mounted on rod 45 and is held under a selected tension between an adjustable stop nut 49 threaded on rear end portion of the rod 45 and the inner surface of the upstanding base plate support portion 47. Another stop member 51 is secured to the forward end of the rod 45 forwardly of the upstanding member 47 to limit the rearward movement of the rod 45. The lateral extending portions of T-section member 46 are thereby disposed for pivoting about a horizontal axis forwardly and above the pivoted axis of the lever and in the clamping position shown is only slightly above the clamp member 43. With spring 48 bearing against members 47 and 49 in this way the rearward end T-section of the rod 45 yieldingly urges the lever 32 rearwardly with the clamp 43 urged downwardly and rearwardly against the boot sole. With this arrangement a sharp forward thrust of the boot against the clamp 43 will produce a pivoting action in the lever about the axis of cross-pin 39 and T-section 46 moves forwardly and downwardly to a lower position where it will be in about the same pane as pivot 39. This spring-loaded arrangement provides a predetermined hold-down pressure on the boot via clamp 43 and clamp 43 being open along its ends permits free lateral release of the ski boot. The threaded adjustment of member 49 on rod 45 provides variation of the force required to lift the boot toe upward in the event ofa rearward fall and thus attain a release of the boot. The The release of the ski boot from this toe binding 14 may also occur if the skier skis into an immovable object abruptly stopping the skis, since the inertia of the skier and ski boot will be forwardly against the rearwardly extending handle portion 32a of the lever causing the lever to pivot about pin 39 and thereby open and allowing the boot to move sufficiently to become free of the heel binding.

A trigger 52 for facilitating an automatic locking of the clamp in place when the ski boot is inserted into place on the ski is also provided. Trigger 52 is of generally right-angle cross-section with a pair of laterally spaced ear portions 53 and 54 with aligned apertures arranged inwardly of arms 41 and 42 to pivot about the same axis as that of the lever 32. The trigger 52 is fixedly secured to cross-pin 39 as by a force fit or welding with the lower leg thereby being in an upwardly and rearwardly inclined position when the lever is in the released position. The lower leg of the trigger is then engaged by the toe of the ski boot as it is inserted into the binding to press the lower leg of the trigger to a position parallel to the ski as shown and at the same time the top surface of clamp 43 is moved down against the toe of the ski boot.

The heel binding 15 shown in FlGS. 1 and 2 may take a variety of conventional constructions which are adapted to release laterally and also preferably vertically. The heel binding 11 shown for purposes of illustration comprises a base plate 61 having an aperture at each corner into which screws 62 extend to secure the heel binding to the ski. The base plate carries a for wardly and downwardly inclined housing 63 and a heel engaging clamp 43 is mounted at the forward end of the housing; the heel-engaging clamp 64 being adjustably supported by an upright threaded member 65 to accommodate varying heights of boot heels. The housing 63 supports a ball 66 which is forwardly biased by a spring 67, the spring tension being adjustable by a cap 68 threaded into the outer end of the housing and bears against one end of the spring so that the threading of the cap into and out of the housing will adjust the tension on the spring and thereby set the release pressure for the heel binding.

Another form of lateral movement restraining device shown in FIGS. 5 and 6 and usable in combination with the toe and heel bindings shown comprises a flat base plate 71 which is pivotally mounted on the top and centrally of the ski by a screw 72 disposed in the center of the plate 71. A pair of upstanding ears or side portions 73 and 74 are provided at the ends of the base plate 71 in which the sole of the boot will releasably insert and snugly fit. in this way the pair of upstanding ears or side portions engage the sides of the sole to hold the boot against lateral movement and at the same time establish a central pivot about a vertical axis on which the ski boot will twist or turn. This pivot again is located intermediately of the heel and toe bindings and slightly rearwardly of the ball of the foot and this form may be used particularly for those boots in which the sole of the ski boot extends beyond the sides of the ski.

Yet another form of lateral movement restraining device shown in FIGS. 7 and 8 comprises a slotted plane 81 which is secured to the bottom of the sole of the boot, the plate having a central elongated slot 83 which extends lengthwise of the boot. Cooperating with the slot 83 is a pivot member 84 having a rounded head 84a projecting above the top of the ski and tapered base portion 84b which inserts into the ski to secure the pivot member thereto. The rounded head 84a is sized to releasably insert into and slide along the slot in a close-fitting relationship. In this way the boot will pivot about the rounded head and lateral movement of the ski boot is prevented while permitting limited longitudinal movement along the ski. Forward and rear spacer members 85 and 86 may be provided on the ski under the toe and heel portions of the sole of the ski boot to compensate for the spacing of the plate member 81 so that the bottom of the ski boot is essentially parallel to the plane of the top of the ski. These spacers are shown to have tapered base portions like portion 84a which insert into the ski for attachment thereto.

From the foregoing it is apparent that the lateral movement restraining devices will function to force the ski boot to rotate about an intermediate point and move forwardly and rearwardly to a limited extent; however, the restraining edges thereof do not allow the boot to slide directly sidewise on the ski but only pivot at the toe and heel about the intermediate pivot point. Side forces exerted by the skier will be transmitted to the ski principally at a central pivot point which results in less twisting forces on the skiers leg and the skier can exert relatively high lateral or side forces without forcing the toe and heel bindings to release.

Although the present invention has been described with a certain degree of particularity, it is understood that the present disclosure has been made by way of example and that changes in details of structure may be made without departing from the spirit thereof.

What is claimed is:

1. In ski binding apparatus for releasably securing a ski boot to a ski, the combination of a forwardly releasable toe binding mounted on the ski, a heel binding mounted on the ski rearwardly of the toe binding and at least one lateral movement restraining member operatively interposed between the ski boot and the ski intermediately of said heel and toe bindings in the area of the ball of the foot, said restraining member supporting said ski boot for free sliding, controlled longitudinal movement relative to the ski in a forward direction longitudinally of the ski and establishing a pivot about which the ski boot will turn when turning forces are applied to the ski boot during skiing.

2. In ski binding apparatus as set forth in claim l including a pair of laterally movement restraining menibers attached to opposite sides of the ski, each member having ear-like portions projecting upwardly above the top of the ski to slidably and releasably engage the oppositely disposed side portions of the sole of said ski boot.

3. In a ski binding assembly as set forth in claim 2 wherein said ear-like portions have a cross-section of a generally double-convex shape.

4. In ski binding apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein said a least one lateral movement restraining member is located along the longitudinal center line of the ski approximately midway between the heel and toe of the ski boot and rearwardly of the ball of a foot in the ski boot.

5. In ski binding apparatus as set forth in claim I wherein said lateral movement restraining member is in the form of a flat plate pivotally mounted about a vertical axis on the top of the ski, said plate having upstanding ear-like positions at each end spaced to engage oppositely disposed side portions of the sole of said ski boot.

6. In ski binding apparatus as set forth in claim 1 including a plate member mounted on the boot having an elongated slot extending longitudinally of the bottom of the boot and ski and a pivot member mounted on the top of the ski positioned to cause the plate member to rotate and slide longitudinally with respect to said ski.

7. In ski binding apparatus for releasably securing a ski boot to a ski, the combination of a toe binding mounted on the ski, a heel binding mounted on the ski rearwardly of the toe binding and a first lateral movement restraining member carried by the ski and engageable with a second lateral movement restraining member carried by the boot, said first and second lateral movement restraining member being in the form of a slotted plate and a pivot member for establishing a pivot intermediately of said heel and toe bindings about which the ski boot will turn when turning forces are applied to the ski boot during skiing, the pivot in the plate extending longitudinally of the ski, said first and second members terminating inwardly of the side edges of the ski and ski boot.

8. In ski binding apparatus for releasably supporting a ski boot on a ski, a laterally releasable heel binding, a laterally and forwardly releasable toe binding bearing downwardly against a toe portion of the boot while permitting lateral movement and a forward release of the boot on the ski and a lateral movement restraining slide-pivot coupling assembly operatively interposed between the ski boot and the ski for establishing a pivot intermediately of said toe and heel bindings rearwardly of the ball of a foot in the ski boot on which the ski boot will turn when turning forces are applied to the ski boot during skiing, said slide-pivot coupling assembly including a plate with an elongated slot mounted on one of said ski boot and ski and a pivot member mounted on the other of said ski boot and ski, said slot extending longitudinally of said ski and boot, said pivot member being sized to be free to slide in a controlled longitudinal movement within said slot and cause said ski boot to pivot about the axis of said pivot member in response to turning forces.

t t it It l 

1. In ski binding apparatus for releasably securing a ski boot to a ski, the combination of a forwardly releasable toe binding mounted on the ski, a heel binding mounted on the ski rearwardly of the toe binding and at least one lateral movement restraining member operatively interposed between the ski boot and the ski intermediately of said heel and toe bindings in the area of the ball of the foot, said restraining member supporting said ski boot for free sliding, controlled longitudinal movement relative to the ski in a forward direction longitudinally of the ski and establishing a pivot about which the ski boot will turn when turning forces are applied to the ski boot during skiing.
 2. In ski binding apparatus as set forth in claim 1 including a pair of laterally movement restraining members attached to opposite sides of the ski, each member having ear-like portions projecting upwardly above the top of the ski to slidably and releasably engage the oppositely disposed side portions of the sole of said ski boot.
 3. In a ski binding assembly as set forth in claim 2 wherein said ear-like portions have a cross-section of a generally double-convex shape.
 4. In ski binding apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein said a least one lateral movement restraining member is located along the longitudinal center line of the ski approximately midway between the heel and toe of the ski boot and rearwardly of the ball of a foot in the ski boot.
 5. In ski binding apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein said lateral movement restraining member is in the form of a flat plate pivotally mounted about a vertical axis on the top of the ski, said plate having upstanding ear-like positions at each end spaced to engage oppositely disposed side portions of the sole of said ski boot.
 6. In ski binding apparatus as set forth in claim 1 including a plate member mounted on the boot having an elongated slot extending longitudinally of the bottom of the boot and ski and a pivot member mounted on the top of the ski positioned to cause the plate member to rotate and slide longitudinally with respect to said ski.
 7. In ski binding apparatus for releasably securing a ski boot to a ski, the combination of a toe binding mounted on the ski, a heel binding mounted on the ski rearwardly of the toe binding and a first lateral movement restraining member carried by the ski and engageable with a second lateral movement restraining member carried by the boot, said first and second lateral movement restraining member being in the form of a slotted plate and a pivot member for establishing a pivot intermediately of said heel and toe bindings about which the ski boot will turn when turning forces are applied to the ski boot during skiing, the pivot in the plate extending longitudinally of the ski, said first and second members terminating inwardly of the side edges of the ski and ski boot.
 8. In ski binding apparatus for releasably supporting a ski boot on a ski, a laterally releasable heel binding, a laterally and forwardly releasable toe biNding bearing downwardly against a toe portion of the boot while permitting lateral movement and a forward release of the boot on the ski and a lateral movement restraining slide-pivot coupling assembly operatively interposed between the ski boot and the ski for establishing a pivot intermediately of said toe and heel bindings rearwardly of the ball of a foot in the ski boot on which the ski boot will turn when turning forces are applied to the ski boot during skiing, said slide-pivot coupling assembly including a plate with an elongated slot mounted on one of said ski boot and ski and a pivot member mounted on the other of said ski boot and ski, said slot extending longitudinally of said ski and boot, said pivot member being sized to be free to slide in a controlled longitudinal movement within said slot and cause said ski boot to pivot about the axis of said pivot member in response to turning forces. 